Canadian Olympic Committee And Partners In Full Preparation Mode Two Years Out From Toronto 2015 Pan American Games

TORONTO – Today, as celebrations marking the two-year countdown to the Toronto 2015 Pan/ParaPan American Games (TORONTO 2015) took place across the GTA and Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) highlighted that preparations are in full swing to field the largest-ever Canadian Pan Am Team.

“We know winning matters to Canadians whether you are on the field of play, on the side-lines, or watching from the stands, the bars or from the comfort of your living room,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “With two years to go until TORONTO 2015, the COC is working with all of our partners in sport, government and the private sector to ensure that when this historic team marches onto the field, they have everything they need to win.”

“Preparing to field a team at a major Games is an incredibly intensive process and so much depends on getting it right,” said Jason Burnett, Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallist and Rio 2007 Pan American Games silver medallist. “The list is endless: from travel to teambuilding, from media training to ensuring an optimal village environment, the COC’s job is to provide strategic value-added programs to make sure the athletes have everything we need to perform on demand.”

The unprecedented size of the Canadian Team for TORONTO 2015 will exceed 1100 with the inclusion of athletes, coaches, and mission team and is a result of the COC’s landmark financial investment of $5.7 million, which is $3.1 million beyond its original commitment.

“We are enormously proud of our ability to field this large a team for the first time in Canadian Pan Am history,” continued Aubut. “With this investment, we are ensuring that every Canadian athlete who is eligible to compete will compete. In addition to the amazing experience of competing on home soil, competing at the Pan Am Games will provide crucial major Games experience in the run-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”

As with all major Games under its watch, the COC works hand-in-glove with its valued sport partners in Canada’s National Sport Federations, Own the Podium and Canadian Sport Centres to deliver a best-in class Games preparation process, and at Games environment for Canadian athletes.